Healthy Kids Bucks

Russell County Health Coalition’s Healthy Bucks program breaks records in 2025!

The Russell County Health Coalition is so excited and grateful to announce that this year's program (our tenth consecutive year, by the way) has broken records in number of children served (1,744 youth), dollars paid out to local farmers ($8,422), and volunteer hours donated (220+). Thanks to all the parents, grandparents, and guardians who brought youth out to the Market to receive Healthy Bucks and learn about healthy eating, nutrition, and the importance of shopping local!
Thanks immensely to Donna Couch, Tammy Lasley, all the Lebanon Farmers Market Vendors , the Russell County Public Schools summer school staff, our wellness educator Kandee Wallace, and all the Coalition volunteers for helping ensure the success of Healthy Bucks!
Special thanks to our lead volunteers Aaron Owens, Bee Stuart, & Kristen Gibson with Virginia Cooperative Extension - Russell County who also provided the printed educational materials for kids' shopping totes donated by Cumberland Mountain Community Services Board, and to Coalition President Dustin Keith who coordinated the program!
Also, a big THANK YOU to Sentara Health and their local representatives Laura Duffy & Sharon Rice, and Ballad Health Russell County Hospital and their local representatives Susan Hilton & Greta Morrison, for sponsoring this year's program and providing the necessary funds! We couldn't have done it without you!

2024 Success!

2023 Success!

1,122 Youth & 143 Seniors Served!

$5,788 Paid to Farmers!

Overview

Healthy Bucks empowers kids to make smart, health choices about what foods they eat and where they come from! Since 2016, the Russell County Health Coalition has sponsored a Healthy Kids Bucks program in partnership with the Town of Lebanon Farmers Market. Children aged 0-17 and their parents/guardians can visit the Health Coalition stall at the Lebanon Farmers Market on Wednesdays & Saturdays in the summer, receive information about the program and healthy recipes incorporating produce available at the Market, and leave with 5 Healthy Bucks they can use 1:1 with farmers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. The child's name, age, and home zip code are recorded. At the end of the Market day, the farmers then exchange their collected Healthy Bucks with Health Coalition volunteers for cash.
Follow the Town of Lebanon Farmers Market on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Town-of-Lebanon-Farmers-Market-107033731997259

Proven Results

Healthy Bucks is an evidence-based, PSE (Policy, Systems, & Environmental Change) implementation targeting healthy eating and listed in the SNAP-Ed toolkit. That's all to say that Healthy Bucks are a proven and cost-effective way to get kids to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and financially support local farmers and markets! Learn more about Healthy Bucks implementation, evidence, and evaluation at snaped.fns.usda.gov/library/intervention/health-bucks

2022 Success!

1,049 Children Served!

$5,245 Paid to Farmers!

2021 Success!

630 Children Served!

$3,150 Paid to Farmers!

Average age of children served: 8 years old

Check us out on the news! Click the photo to view WCYB Olivia Bailey's story on Healthy Bucks!

2020 Success!

Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and with strict policies in place to limit viral spread, the Russell County Health Coalition continued to give out Healthy Bucks in 2020! Seven volunteers worked 29 market days, donating approximately 225 service hours, to provide 383 children across 19 zip codes with Russell County Healthy Bucks, and $1,915 was paid directly to Russell County farmers and producers for their fresh fruits and vegetables through our local market!

383 Children Served!

$1,915 Paid to Farmers!

Average age of children served: 7 years old

2019 Photos!

2018 Photos!

Volunteers & Financial Partners

Healthy Bucks would not be possible without amazing and committed volunteers and financial backers! Thanks especially to Molina Health of Virginia for sponsoring our Healthy Bucks program in 2022 & 2023!
Coalition President Dustin Keith is the primary contact for the program in 2023. Thanks to lead volunteers Aaron Owens & Bee Stuart for all their work and dedication to Healthy Bucks!
Funds for Healthy Bucks come from the Health Coalition and donors, including Molina Health of Virginia, Ballad Health, the Town of Lebanon, and the Lebanon Farmers Market.